The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-10-07
PARIS PICKPOCKETS.
Interesting Statements Of an Ex-
Chief Of Detectives.
The Systematic Training Necessary to a
Successful Career OF Thieving-Some
of the Most Ingenious Ruses
PractIced.

The most interesting book that has
recently appeared in Paris is "Un Joli
Monde, " written by M. Mace M. Mace
for many years and until eighteen
months ago was the chief of the Paris
detective police. His book is devoted
to the seamy side of Partisan life, that
would naturally fall under the Observa-
ton of man in that place. Perhaps
one of the most interesting chapters is
that entitled "Pickpockets and Pick
pockettes," from which the Times
translates the following:
"Apropos of the pickpockets, there
are professors that make a business of
teaching that kind of robbery. Special
schools exist where boys that ought to
be at play with their hoops and tops
are initiated into all the secrets of this
art After n few lessons their 'profes-
soIs' require them to undergo practical
examinations on a manikin. This
manikin, dressed like a man and COW
cred with little bells, is suspended
from the ceiling by wire so that at
the least contact the bells are set to
iingling. A boy is considered ready to
work a crowd when, time and again,
he can take n purse or pocket-boOk
from the pocket of the manikin with
Gus ringing a single bell.
THE true pickpOcket is not a vulgar
rascal, and you viii be astOnished to
learn that many of them have an estab-
lished social position. Some of them
are the keepers of cafes, jewelers., to-
bacconists, and all Of them have the
appearance of honest tradesmen and
respectable people. The English pick
pocket is the best known-he is seen
everywhere-but he is not the most
clever. He has in some way acquired
n reputation that he does not merit.
He is stiff, constrained in his
movements, and exhibits i'm his
calling a good deal of the national
phlegm. He is an indefatigable
walker, and the police agents who fol-
low him up to catch him in the act re-
turn in a state of exhaustion. Sly as
n serpent, he never yields to any dan
gerous temptation. He never remains
in one crowd longer than ten minutes,
and generally contents himself with
one victim at a place. He is most at
homo at the races, but even there
never forgets the rules of prudence
that guide him elsewhere. The fever
of betting renders the crowd careless.
Bets are made, and the horses start
followed by thousand anxious eyes
Around they go. Now they draw neal
the wire. The crowd bursts into an
uproar; an instant later the air is filed
with the mingled cries of triumph fol
a. Al. L n
appointment of the losers. The only
man in the crowd who escapes the gen.
eral excitement is the pickpocket Hi,
face is calm, his head is cool, and hi.
body, almost glued to that of his vic.
TINS, is motionless. His hands alone
are busy, and in a brief space he has
gathered in an abundant harvest
While he is thus engaged his accom-
plices surround him. each having
particular role assigned to him in adj
vance. When a rich betting mar
makes his way to bookmaker. some
of these accomplices crowd in befor,
him while others push him forward
from behind. He is jostled and ell
bowed by these rogues, whom he takes
to be betting men like himself, anC
when he energies from the crowd h,
has left his pocket-book in the hands o
the operator. who has not failed to tax,
advantage of his opportunities. Tn,
booty passes from hand to hand to tn,
last accomplice, who is generally tn,
cashier of the band. The trick taken
the pickpockets separate without stop
ping TO see what they have got, anC
begin another operation.
''Pickpockets have sources of in
formation more secret and sure thar
those of the municipal police Nothing
escapes them, and it is a oemmoI
thing for pickPockets in London an,
New York to notify confederates il
Paris of the arrival of good sub
iects for the exercise of thei
art As general thing, al
the pickpockets of the nortl
tho English, Russians, Poles, an,
Germans-are cold, methodical, auda